Extension



2 Sheets-Sheetl.

0 Mom.

J. E.v WALKER.v

EXTENSION- FIRE'LADDER.

v r w m WW W V? I M i3: E m E 1: W m 5:: Y L; x H =i. J:" 1?:dnw nxr :x .v. W m g A o o. N P E m Q a: 2:5: a? i; l:

(No Model.)

2 S'heetsShe t 2. J. E. WALKER.

EXTENSION FIRE LADDER.

No. 301,308. Patented July 1,1884.

N. PETER3, Pmlo-Lilho n hnn Wnshingmn. 0.1;

linrrnn Era'rns arrtnrr rrren.

1 JAMES E. WALKER, OF EETROlT, MlClllGi-XN.

EXTENSION FlRE-LADDER.

-.'$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,308, dated July 1, 1884.

Application filed March 5, 1884. (No model.)

. use and known, too much power is required to elevate the ladders from their recumbent position on the truck to the position required for use, such position being vertical, or nearly so; and the object of the present invention is to obviate this difficulty; and to this end the pres entinvention consists in the peculiar construction, operation, and combinations of parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ladder upon its bed, such bed being designed to rest upon a suitable truck, which is not shown. Fig. 2 is a plan of the bed looking from the top. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the ladder raised and partially turned upon its rotating base. 4

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents the bed, which is designed to rest upon a suitable truck. Upon one end of this base are secured the grooved ways B, the extreme outer ends of which turn upwardly, 'as shown, at an angle of about thirty-five degrees, and this angle may be varied more or less without departing from the spirit of my invention. Extensions 0 of these ways, but entirely disconnected from the same, are secured on the same horizontal plane to the turn-table D, which is centrally secured upon the bed in any of the known ways of securing such turn-tables for effectiial work. Upon this turn-table are secured the standards E, between which, and near the bottom thereof, is journaled the shaft F, the proj ecting end of which has secured to it a toothed pinion, which receives motion by means of the crank and pinion H and the main drivingwheel I, which is properly secured to a counter -shaft, and projects from one of the standards, as shown. At a considerable distance above the shaft F, and preferably in rear of the axis thereof, and to the said standards, is suit ably journaled a bearing roller or shaft, J.

A rod K, is secured to the foot of the ladder L by passing through the legs thereof, and the projecting ends of said rod are provided with anti-friction wheels M, (see Fig. 3,) which travel in the grooves in the ways.

The ladder, in the position shown in Fig. 1, is nearly horizontal, resting not far from the center of its length upon the rod J, while its foot, through the friction wheels journaled thereto, is held against the upper ends of the grooves in the inclined portion of the ways by cord V and its attached hook. When it is desired to raise the ladder, the crank H is turned in a proper direction, giving motion to the shaft F, secured to which is a rope or chain, N, the opposite end of which is secured to the rod K at the foot of the ladder, and by winding up this rope upon said shaft the foot of the ladder is compelled to travel down the inclined grooves, its weight principally resting upon the bearingroller J, andthe foot of said ladder, under the continued actuation of the crank, travels in the grooves in the ways to the rear, and enters the grooves upon the extensions ofsuch ways upon the turntable until it is at the desired incline. Now, by disengaging the stops O, which look theturn-table in position, said turn-table maybe rotated as far as desired, or until the upper end of the ladder will rest against or near the height to be reached.

. 1? is a winch suitably journaled to the lad der Lnear its foot, and near the opposite end, and to one of the rounds thereof, is secured a block, Q, and a rope, R, passing around said winch and through such block, is secured, in the ordinary way, to the extension S of the ladder, which maybe used or not, as occasion may require. To the inclined portion.,of the with the rod near the foot of the ladder, and the reverse motion being given to the crank and pinion H and a suitable motion given to the winch T, the ladder is drawn back, after the turn-table has been replaced to its original position, to the position shown in Fig. 1.

By this construction the power required to elevate the ladder is reduced to the minimum by furnishing the central bearing-roller, upon which, in the process of elevation, it turns, as upon a fulcrum, while it is held in position against displacement by the friction-rollers traveling in the grooved ways.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In combination with the bed A, grooved ways 13,-and ladder L, the. foot of which is provided with friction-rollers, the turn-table D, having permanently secured thereto the extensions 0, carrying the standards E, and grooved to correspond with the grooves in the ways 13, of which they form extensions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the bed A, grooved ways B, turn-table D, provided with extensions G,rigidly secured thereto, and carrying the standards E, shaft F, and bearing-roller J, ladder L, provided with friction-rollers M,

and means,substantially as described, for raising and lowering the ladder, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A ladder bearing at all times upon a roller near the center of its length, which roller is supported upon standards secured to aturntable upon the bed, grooved ways, frictionrollers secured to the foot of such ladder and traveling'in said groove, and means, substantially as described, for elevating and retracting said ladder, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination of vthe bed A, grooved ways B, secured thereto, and-terminating at one end in an upward incline, turn-table D, having permanently secured thereto the stand ards E, the lower ends of which terminate in extensions 0, grooved to correspond with the grooves in the ways 13, and the ladder L, the foot of which is provided with friction-rollers M, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

/ JAMES E. WALKER.

\Vitn ess es:

H. S. SPRAGUE, J. PAUL llIAYER. 

